Synchronizing multiple playback device timing utilizing DRM encoding

ABSTRACT

A system and method are provided for synchronizing playback of media content on multiple playback devices utilizing Digital Rights Management (DRM) encoding. In general, multiple playback devices or users of those playback devices are associated to form a virtual group. A virtual group (VG) control function operates to synchronize advertisement (ad) slots within media content provided to the playback devices in the virtual group utilizing DRM encoding.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/831,506 filed Jul. 31, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to coordinating playback of media contentitems at multiple playback devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is an increasing trend to view video content on devices other thana television such as a personal computer, an Apple iPod®, a MicrosoftZune™, a mobile phone such as an Apple iPhone, a Personal DigitalAssistant (PDA), or the like. Unlike a television, these devicesprimarily have a one-to-one mapping with a user. As such, a first usermay be watching video content on his device while a second user that isproximate to, or otherwise associated with, the first user may bewatching different content on her device. For example, consider threeusers A, B, and C that are in close physical proximity such as in aliving room of their home. User A is viewing previously downloaded orVideo-on-Demand (VoD) content on a wireless handheld device, such as aMicrosoft Zune™, Nintendo DS®, or other Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)-capableplayback handheld video device. User B is watching content on a HighDefinition Television (HDTV) device provided by an associated set-topbox that functions as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) and a digitalsignal decoder. User C is watching a downloaded video from a servicesuch as Apple iTunes® on a personal computer.

In such a system or in similar systems, the opportunity exists toprovide the users with a common experience. As such, there is a need fora system and method of coordinating playback of media content atmultiple playback devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for synchronizingplayback of media content on multiple playback devices utilizing DigitalRights Management (DRM) encoding. In general, multiple playback devicesor users of those playback devices are associated to form a virtualgroup. In operation, a virtual group (VG) control function coordinatesmedia content items selected for playback at the playback devices andutilizes Digital Rights Management (DRM) encoding to restrict playbackof the media content items such that the media content items remaincoordinated during playback at the playback devices.

In one embodiment, the VG control function coordinates the media contentitems by synchronizing or otherwise coordinating advertisement (ad)slots within media content provided to the playback devices in thevirtual group. The VG control function then utilizes DRM encoding torestrict playback of the media content items such that that ad slotsremain coordinated during playback of the media content items at theplayback devices. More specifically, the VG control function obtainsmedia content to be provided to the playback devices. The media contentto be provided to the playback devices may or may not be the same mediacontent. The VG control function first coordinates one or more ad slotsin the media content to be provided to the playback devices. Then, foreach of the playback devices, the VG control function segments thecorresponding media content, generates timing rights for each of thesegments, and encodes the media content. The timing rights for thesegments are defined such that playback of the segments is restricted ina manner that coordinates the ad slots in the media content with the adslots in the media content provided to the other playback devices. TheVG control function provides the encoded media content and timing rightsto the playback devices. At the playback devices, playback of the mediacontent is restricted based on the timing rights for the segments suchthat the ad slots at the playback devices are coordinated.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the presentinvention and realize additional aspects thereof after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments inassociation with the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part ofthis specification illustrate several aspects of the invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for coordinating advertisements at multipleplayback devices according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the system of FIG. 1 according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3 illustrates exemplary media content items according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates the exemplary media content items of FIG. 3, whereinthe advertisement (ad) slots of the media content items have beencoordinated according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the exemplary media content items of FIG. 4 whereinthe media content items have been segmented and timing rights for thesegments have been defined according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary screen shot of a media content itempresented to a viewer according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 illustrates another exemplary screen shot of a media content itempresented to a viewer according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the central node of FIG. 1 according to oneembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of one of the playback devices of FIG. 1according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustratethe best mode of practicing the invention. Upon reading the followingdescription in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilledin the art will understand the concepts of the invention and willrecognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressedherein. It should be understood that these concepts and applicationsfall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.

The present invention relates to coordinating advertisements on multipleplayback devices during playback of media content. FIG. 1 illustrates asystem 10 providing coordinated advertisement (ad) slots at multipleplayback devices using Digital Rights Management (DRM) encodingaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. In general, thesystem 10 includes a central node 12 communicatively coupled to playbackdevices 14-1 through 14-N via a network 16, which in this example is aPersonal Area Network (PAN) or Local Area Network (LAN), and,optionally, a playback device 18 via a Wide Area Network (WAN) 20. Notethat the central node 12 may alternatively be connected to the playbackdevice 18 via a separate PAN or LAN. In this embodiment, the centralnode 12 is also communicatively coupled to a remote advertisement, or“ad,” server 22 via the WAN 20. As used herein, a PAN may be formed bydevices having a wired connection such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB)connection, a local wireless connection such as a Bluetooth or IEEE802.11 connection, or the like; a LAN may be, for example, an Ethernetnetwork, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network, or the like; and a WAN maybe any type or combination of WANs such as, for example, the Internet.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a virtual group(VG) control function 24 is hosted by the central node 12 and theplayback devices 14-1 through 14-N and 18 or their associated users 26-1through 26-N and 28 are either statically or dynamically associated toform a virtual group. For this description, the virtual group isreferred to as a virtual group of playback devices. The virtual groupmay be formed on the user level or the playback device level. In thisembodiment, the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N are proximate to oneanother. For example, the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N may belocated or carried by users within a room, a house, a building, or thelike. In contrast, the playback device 18 is at a remote location.However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, allof the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and 18 may be remote from oneanother and connected to the central node 12 via the WAN 20. In oneembodiment, the users 26-1 through 26-N and 28 are having a sharedexperience. The users 26-1 through 26-N are having a shared experienceas a result of their close physical proximity to one another. Inaddition, the user 28 may interact with one or more of the users 26-1through 26-N via, for example, Instant Messaging (IM), phone,Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), or the like such that the user 28has a shared experience with the users 26-1 through 26-N.

The VG control function 24 may be implemented in software, hardware, ora combination of software and hardware. The VG control function 24generally operates to provide media content to the playback devices 14-1through 14-N and 18 in the virtual group and to coordinate ad slots inthe media content provided to the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and18 utilizing DRM encoding. As used herein, an “ad slot” is a break incontent into which an advertisement is or may be inserted. In additionor alternatively, an ad slot may be a defined period or segment ofcontent during which a visual, audio, or audio-visual advertisement maybe overlaid or superimposed upon the content. The VG control function 24may also obtain targeted advertisements for the ad slots from the remotead server 22 and either insert the targeted advertisements into thecoordinated ad slots in the media content or provide the targetedadvertisements to the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and 18 forinsertion into the coordinated ad slots. Alternatively, the VG controlfunction 24 may provide references to the targeted advertisements forthe coordinated ad slots, where the references enable the playbackdevices 14-1 through 14-N and 18 to obtain the advertisements from thecentral node 12 or the remote ad server 22.

The media content provided to the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and18 may be, for example, broadcast television content, Video on Demand(VoD) content, streaming video content, or the like and may be providedto the central node 12 from a remote service such as, for example, acable television service, a satellite television service, an InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) service, or the like. In addition oralternatively, the media content, or at least some media content items,may be stored by the central node 12. For example, the central node 12may be enabled to receive streaming video content from one or moreremote services and also store one or more media content items such asone or more movies or television programs.

The media content provided to the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and18 may be homogeneous content or heterogeneous content. As used herein,“homogenous content” is the same media content played at substantiallythe same time. For example, the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and18 may be playing the same movie and be at substantially the same pointduring playback of the movie. As another example, the playback devicesmay 14-1 through 14-N and 18 may be playing the same video contentstream. In contrast, “heterogeneous content” refers to different contentbeing played by the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and 18. In oneembodiment, the heterogeneous content is heterogeneous video contentsuch that different video content is being played or viewed at theplayback devices 14-1 through 14-N and 18. For example, each of theplayback devices 14-1 through 14-N and 18 may be playing a differentvideo, movie, television program, or the like. Note that, as usedherein, heterogeneous content is to include the situation where two ormore of the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N are playing the samevideo content but are at different points during playback of the videocontent. For example, the playback device 14-1 may be at the beginningof playback of a movie and the playback device 18 may be at someintermediate point during playback of the same movie.

While the discussion herein focuses on video content, the presentinvention is not limited thereto. The present invention is equallyapplicable to coordinating advertisements in other types of mediacontent such as, for example, songs, radio broadcasts, slideshows, videogames where action in a video game may be paused in order to insert anadvertisement, or the like. Still further, the present invention is alsoapplicable to coordinating advertisements when some of the playbackdevices 14-1 through 14-N and 18 are playing a first media content typesuch as video content and others of the playback devices are playing asecond media content type such as audio content. For example, one ormore of the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and 18 may be playingvideo content while others are playing audio content.

The playback device 14-1 may be, for example, a personal computer; amobile device such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobiletelephone such an Apple iPhone, a Portable Media Player (PMP) such as aMicrosoft Zune™, Nintendo® DS, or Sony PSP®, or the like; a set-top box;a set-top box function hosted by or incorporated into a computingdevice; a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) such as a TiVo® DVR; or any othertype of presentation device having media playback or presentationcapabilities and an interface to the network 16. The playback device14-1 includes a virtual group (VG) client function 30-1, which ishereinafter referred to as a client function 30-1, and a media player32-1. The client function 30-1 and the media player 32-1 may each beimplemented in software, hardware, or a combination of software andhardware. The media player 32-1 operates to play media content providedto the playback device 14-1 from the central node 12.

Similarly, the playback device 14-N may be, for example, a personalcomputer; a mobile device such as a PDA, a mobile telephone such as anApple iPhone, a PMP such as a Microsoft Zune™, Nintendo® DS, or SonyPSP®, or the like; a set-top box; a set-top box function hosted by orincorporated into a computing device; a DVR such as a TiVo® DVR; or anyother type of presentation device having media playback or presentationcapabilities and an interface to the network 16. The playback device14-N includes a client function 30-N and a media player 32-N. Likewise,the playback device 18 may be, for example, a personal computer; amobile device such as a PDA, a mobile telephone such as an Apple iPhone,a PMP such as a Microsoft Zune™, Nintendo® DS, or Sony PSP®, or thelike; a set-top box; a set-top box function hosted by or incorporatedinto a computing device; a DVR such as a TiVo® DVR; or any other type ofpresentation device having media playback or presentation capabilitiesand an interface to the WAN 20. The playback device 18 includes a clientfunction 34 and a media player 36.

Note that, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art uponreading this description, numerous variations of the illustratedembodiment of the system 10 are possible and are to be considered withinthe scope of the present invention. For example, the VG control function24 may alternatively be hosted by a remote server such as, for example,the remote ad server 22 where the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N maythen be connected to the remote ad server 22 via the WAN 20. Further,while the VG control function 24 is illustrated as being hosted by thecontrol node 12, the VG control function 24 may alternatively be hostedby one of the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and 18 or distributedamong two or more of the playback devices 14-1 through 14-N and 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the system 10 of FIG. 1 according toone embodiment of the present invention. In this example, each of theclient functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34 requests a media content item fromthe VG control function 24 (steps 100-104). Each of the requested mediacontent items may be, for example, a streaming video channel, abroadcast television channel, a movie or television program offered by aVoD service, or the like. The media content items requested by theclient functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34 may or may not be the same mediacontent item. In one embodiment, the client functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34request content in response to selections by the users 26-1, 26-N, and28. In this example, the three users 26-1, 26-N, and 28 are illustratedas having requested content at substantially the same time for clarityand ease of discussion. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, the user 26-1 may first request content.Thereafter, while the user 26-1 is viewing his selected content, theuser 26-N may request content. At this point, more than two members ofthe virtual group are active. As such, the VG control function 24proceeds to coordinate ad slots in the manner described below.Thereafter, if the user 28 requests content, the VG control function 24may repeat the coordination process for all three playback devices 14-1,14-N, and 18 or perform the coordination process for only the playbackdevice 18 in order to coordinate the ad slots in the media contentrequested by the playback device 18 with the ad slots in the mediacontent being played back by the playback devices 14-1 and 14-N.

Returning to the illustrated example, upon receiving the requests fromthe client functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34 of the playback devices 14-1,14-N, and 18, the VG control function 24 obtains the requested mediacontent items (step 106). As discussed above, the VG control function 24may obtain the requested media content items from one or more remoteservices or from local storage. The VG control function 24 thencoordinates the ad slots in the media content items, or for streamingcontent, at least upcoming ad slots in the media content items (step108). The ad slots may be coordinated by, for example, synchronizing thead slots. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Forstreaming media content, metadata or information describing thestreaming media content may be provided to, or obtained by, the VGcontrol function 24 to enable coordination of ad slots. Note that ifeach of the client devices 14-1, 14-N, and 18 requests the same mediacontent item at substantially the same time, pre-existing ad slots ornatural transitions in the media content for the playback devices 14-1,14-N, and 18 may already be synchronized. Thus, in this situation, theVG control function 24 may coordinate the pre-existing ad slots ornatural transitions by maintaining the pre-existing synchronizationbetween the ad slots.

More specifically, the media content items may or may not havepre-existing ad slots. If the media content items do have pre-existingad slots, the VG control function 24 operates to coordinate the ad slotsby, for example, extending or condensing the pre-existing ad slots,removing the pre-existing ad slots and inserting new ad slots, or thelike, or any combination thereof. If the media content items do not havepre-existing ad slots, the VG control function 24 may insert ad slotssuch that the inserted ad slots are coordinated in the desired manner.Alternatively, the VG control function 24 may detect natural transitionsin the media content items such as, for example, scene transitions,chapter breaks, or the like and insert ad slots at select ones of thenatural transitions. The inserted ad slots may be adjusted by, forexample, extending or condensing the ad slots to further coordinate theinserted ad slots. For more information on exemplary ways to coordinatead slots in an environment similar to that of the present invention, theinterested reader is directed to U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/688,404, entitled COORDINATING ADVERTISEMENTS AT MULTIPLE PLAYBACKDEVICES, which was filed on Mar. 20, 2007 and is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

Once the VG control function 24 has coordinated the ad slots, the VGcontrol function 24 segments the media content items (step 110). Thesize of the segments may be, for example, based on the particular needsof the system 10 or desired coordination scheme, configured by the oneor more of the users 26-1, 26-N, and 28, configured by a distributor ofthe media content items, configured by an operator or user associatedwith the VG control function 24, or selected based on a trade-offbetween rights management overhead and desired segment size for thecoordination scheme. In one embodiment, the media content items may besegmented based on the coordinated ad slots. For example, media contentbetween two ad slots may be one segment. In another embodiment, themedia content between ad slots may be segmented into predeterminedsubstantially fixed segment sizes such as, for example, five (5) minutesegments. The VG control function 24 may actually segment the mediacontent items or logically segment the media content items. The mediacontent items may be logically segmented by, for example, usingassociated metadata identifying a start point and an end point for eachsegment.

Once the media content items are segmented, the VG control function 24encodes the segmented media content items and generates rights, ortiming rights, for each segment of each of the media content items (step112). Note for streaming media content, the VG control function 24segments and encodes the segments of the streaming media content andgenerates the timing rights as the media content is streamed to the VGcontrol function 24. For each one of the playback devices 14-1, 14-N,and 18, the timing rights define a start time and an end time for eachof the segments of the corresponding media content item. The start timeand end time may each be, for example, a particular time of day such as7:00 PM EST and 7:10 PM EST. As another example, the start time and endtime may each be relative to a system time. The system time may be thebeginning of playback of the media content item at the playback device14-1, 14-N, or 18 or a time maintained by one of the playback devices14-1, 14-N, or 18 or the VG control function 24. The timing rights aredefined such that playback of the segments of the media content items atthe playback devices 14-1, 14-N, and 18 is restricted such that the adslots remain coordinated during playback of the media content items atthe playback devices 14-1, 14-N, and 18. Thus, even if the users 26-1,26-N, and 28 are enabled to fast-forward, rewind, or pause playback,playback of the segments is restricted to force coordination of the adslots.

In addition, the VG control function 24 may select advertisements forthe ad slots in the media content items. In one embodiment, the VGcontrol function 24 selects targeted advertisements for the ad slotsbased on information such as, for example, profiles of the users 26-1,26-N, and 28; profiles of the playback devices 14-1, 14-N, and 18;metadata or information describing the requested media content items; orthe like, or any combination thereof. For more information relating tothe selection of targeted advertisements, the interested reader is againdirected to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/688,404. Once theadvertisements for the ad slots are selected, the VG control function 24may obtain the selected advertisements from the remote ad server 22. TheVG control function 24 may then insert the advertisements into the adslots prior to or after encoding. Alternatively, the VG control function24 may store the advertisements and provide references to theadvertisements to the playback devices 14-1, 14-N, and 18 in associationwith the ad slots such that the client functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34 canobtain the advertisements for the ad slots from the VG control function24 as needed. As yet another alternative, the VG control function 24 mayprovide references to the advertisements to the playback devices 14-1,14-N, and 18 such that the client functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34 canthereafter obtain the advertisements from the remote ad server 22 orsome other remote source. Finally, in another embodiment, the mediacontent items may already include advertisements within the ad slots inwhich case the VG control function 24 enables these preexistingadvertisements to remain in the ad slots. Alternatively, the VG controlfunction 24 may replace the preexisting advertisements with targetedadvertisements, where the preexisting advertisements may be used asdefault advertisements if no targeted advertisements can be found.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the process of coordinating the ad slots in themedia content items, segmenting the media content items, and generatingthe timing rights for each of the segments according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 illustrates portions of themedia content items requested by the client functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34of the playback devices 14-1, 14-N, and 18 including pre-existing adslots according to one embodiment of the present invention. In thisexample, the client function 30-1 of the playback device 14-1 hasrequested VIDEO A, which includes a number of pre-existing ad slots (AdSlot 1, Ad Slot 2, etc.). The client function 30-N of the playbackdevice 14-N has requested VIDEO B, which includes a number ofpre-existing ad slots (Ad Slot 1, Ad Slot 2, etc.). Lastly, the clientfunction 34 of the playback device 18 has requested VIDEO C, whichincludes a number of pre-existing ad slots (Ad Slot 1, Ad Slot 2, etc.).

FIG. 4 illustrates the requested media content items after coordinationof the ad slots. In this example, the ad slots have been coordinated byextending the ad slots, or more specifically adding new ad slots. As aresult, the ad slots (Ad Slot 1, Ad Slot 2, etc.) of the media contentitems (VIDEO A, VIDEO B, and VIDEO C) are substantially synchronized.While the ad slots are coordinated by extending the ad slots in thisexample, the present invention is not limited thereto. Further, whilethe ad slots are coordinated by synchronizing the ad slots in thisexample, the ad slots may be coordinated in any desired manner. Forexample, the ad slots may alternatively be staggered.

FIG. 5 illustrates segmentation of the media content items of FIG. 4 andthe assignment of timing rights to the segments. In this example, anumber of time points (Time 0, Time 1, Time 2, etc.) are illustrated. Asa first example, the VG control function 24 may segment the mediacontent items (VIDEO A-VIDEO C) into a number of segments: Segment 0-1from Time 0 to Time 1, Segment 1-2 from Time 1 to Time 2, Segment 2-3from Time 2 to Time 3, etc. The VG control function 24 then definestiming rights (Rights Segment 0-1, Rights Segment 1-2, Rights Segment2-3, etc.). Note that in this example, no timing rights are defined forthe ad slots. As such, the advertisements in the ad slots begin playbackat the end of the previous segment and preferably complete playbackprior to the start time of the next segment. However, the VG controlfunction 24 may alternatively define timing rights for the ad slots.

As a second example, the VG control function 24 may segment the mediacontent items (VIDEO A-VIDEO C) to form single segments between adslots. More specifically, as illustrated, the VG control function 24 mayform a segment (Segment 0-3) from Time 0 to Time 3 and another segment(Segment 4-7) from Time 4 to Time 7. The VG control function 24 thengenerates timing rights for those segments (Rights Segment 0-3 andRights Segment 4-7). While in this example each of the segment sizes foreach media content item is the same, the present invention is notlimited thereto. Each of the media content items may have differentsegment sizes. Further, within each media content item, the segmentsizes may vary.

Returning to FIG. 2, once the media content items are encoded and thetiming rights are generated, the VG control function 24 provides theencoded media content item requested by the client function 30-1, thetiming rights for the segments of the encoded media content item, and ifneeded one or more keys for decoding the encoded media content item tothe client function 30-1 of the client device 14-1 (step 114). Likewise,the VG control function 24 provides the encoded media content itemsrequested by the client functions 30-N and 34, the timing rights for thesegments of the encoded media content items, and if needed one or morekeys for decoding the encoded media content items to the clientfunctions 30-N and 34, respectively (steps 116 and 118). Alternatively,the VG control function 24 may provide the encoded media content to theclient functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34 and thereafter provide the timingrights and key for each segment just prior to the start times of thesegments in a “just-in-time” manner. More specifically, the timingrights and key for each segment may be provided to the client functions30-1, 30-N, and 34 a predetermined amount of time just before playbackof the segments is to begin.

Upon receiving the encoded media content items, the client functions30-1, 30-N, and 34 effect playback of the media content items accordingto the timing rights of the segments of the media content items (steps120-124). The client functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34 may, for example,interact with the VG client function 24 to validate the timing rightsand keys once at the beginning of playback and/or prior to the beginningof each segment. Using the client function 30-1 and the Rights Set B ofFIG. 5 as an example, the client function 30-1 examines the timingrights (Rights Segment 0-3) to determine when the first segment (Segment0-3) of the encoded media content item is to begin playback. If thetiming rights are relative to the beginning of playback, the clientfunction 30-1 may begin playback as soon as the encoded media contentitems are received, at some specified time, or when instructed by the VGcontrol function 24. When it is time for the first segment to beginplayback, the client function 30-1 decodes the first segment (RightsSegment 0-3) using the corresponding key and provides the decoded videocontent to the media player 32-1 (FIG. 1) for playback. The user 26-1may optionally be enabled to fast-forward, rewind, and pause playback ofthe first segment (Rights Segment 0-3). Once the end time for the firstsegment (Rights Segment 0-3) is reached, the client function 30-1 stopsplayback of the first segment.

The client function 30-1 then effects playback of the advertisement forthe first ad slot (Ad Slot 1). The advertisement for the ad slot (AdSlot 1) may already be included in the media content item.Alternatively, the advertisement may be provided to the client function30-1 separately and inserted into the ad slot (Ad Slot 1). As anotheralternative, a reference to the advertisement may be provided to theclient function 30-1, where the client function 30-1 uses the referenceto obtain the advertisement from the VG control function 24 or a remotesource such as the remote ad sever 22 (FIG. 1) and then inserts theadvertisement into the ad slot (Ad Slot 1). Note that functions such asfast-forwarding, pausing, and rewinding may or may not be enabled duringthe ad slot. Also, while no timing rights are defined for the ad slot inthis example, the present invention is not limited thereto. Timingrights may also be defined for the ad slots. When the start time for thenext segment (Rights Segment 4-7) is reached, the client function 30-1begins playback of the next segment (Rights Segment 4-7). The processcontinues until playback is complete or terminated by the user 26-1.

Typically, timing rights for each segment provide sufficient time forthe user 26-1 to view the entire segment. The timing rights may includeadditional time such that the user 26-1 has sufficient time to view theentire segment even with a reasonable amount of pausing and rewinding.If playback reaches the end of the first segment before the end time ofthe first segment, the user 26-1 may be enabled to view some other mediacontent until the end time of the segment is reached, be presented withan advertisement or instructions asking the user 26-1 to wait, or thelike.

More specifically, FIG. 6 illustrates a frame of a media content itemwhere playback is restricted according to the present invention. Asillustrated, information such as time remaining before the end of theuser's right to playback the current segment of the media content itemand the amount of time in the current segment may be presented to theuser. If, as illustrated in FIG. 7, playback of the current segment iscomplete before the end time for the current segment, the user may beenabled to switch to another media content item such as a broadcasttelevision channel until the end time for the current segment isreached. Note that the user may switch to another media content item atany time if desired. In this example, playback of the current segmenthas completed with 2 minutes and 13 seconds remaining before the endtime for the current segment. As such, the user has switched playback toanother media content item. The current segment of the media contentitem may also be presented using a Picture-in-Picture (PIP) feature orthe like. When the end time of the current segment is reached, theclient functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34 may automatically switch back to themedia content item, prompt the user to switch back to the media contentitem, notify the user, or the like.

Returning to FIG. 2, after providing the encoded content, timing rights,and keys to the client functions 30-1, 30-N, and 34, the VG controlfunction 24 may further operate to dynamically update the segmentationof the encoded media content items and/or the timing rights for thesegments in response to triggering events such as, for example, one ofthe playback devices 14-1, 14-N, or 18 becoming inactive, a new playbackdevice in the virtual group becoming active as indicated by the receiptof a request for a media content item, a request for a new media contentitem from one or more of the playback devices 14-1, 14-N, and 18, or thelike. More specifically, in response to the triggering event, the VGcontrol function 24 may repeat all or some of steps 106-112 in order toobtain any new media content item(s), dynamically update thecoordination of the ad slots, update the segmenting of the media contentitems, generate timing rights for the updated segments, and encode theupdated segments. Alternatively, if the triggering event is theactivation of the new playback device or a request for a new mediacontent item from one of the playback devices 14-1, 14-N, and 18, the VGcontrol function 24 may coordinate the ad slots in the media contentrequested by that playback device with the previously coordinated adslots of the media content requested by the other playback devicesrather than updating the media content for all of the playback devices.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the central node12 of FIG. 1. In general, the central node 12 includes a control system38 having associated memory 40. In this embodiment, the VG controlfunction 24 is implemented in software and stored in the memory 40.However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The VG controlfunction 24 may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combinationthereof. The central node 12 may also include one or more digitalstorage devices 42, one or more communication interfaces 44communicatively coupling the central node 12 to the playback devices14-1 through 14-N and 18 and the remote ad server 22, and a userinterface 46, which may include components such as one or more userinput devices, a display, and the like.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the playbackdevice 14-1 of FIG. 1. This discussion is equally applicable to theother playback devices 14-2 through 14-N and 18. In general, theplayback device 14-1 includes a control system 48 having associatedmemory 50. In this embodiment, the client function 30-1 and the mediaplayer 32-1 are implemented in software and stored in the memory 50.However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Each of theclient function 30-1 and the media player 32-1 may be implemented insoftware, hardware, or a combination thereof. The playback device 14-1may also include one or more digital storage devices 52, a communicationinterface 54 communicatively coupling the playback device 14-1 to the VGcontrol function 24 at the central node 12, and a user interface 56,which may include components such as one or more user input devices, adisplay, one or more speakers, and the like.

Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modificationsto the preferred embodiments of the present invention. All suchimprovements and modifications are considered within the scope of theconcepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.

1. A method comprising: coordinating advertisement slots in a pluralityof media content items selected for playback at a plurality of playbackdevices to provide a plurality of coordinated media content items, eachof the plurality of media content items selected for playback at acorresponding one of the plurality of playback devices; segmenting eachof the plurality of coordinated media content items into a plurality ofsegments; generating timing rights for the plurality of segments of eachof the plurality of coordinated media content items to restrict playbackof the plurality of segments of each of the plurality of coordinatedmedia content items such that the plurality of coordinated media contentitems are coordinated during playback at the plurality of playbackdevices; encoding the plurality of segments of each of the plurality ofcoordinated media content items to provide a plurality of encodedsegments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items;and for each one of the plurality of playback devices, providing theplurality of encoded segments for a corresponding one of the pluralityof coordinated media content items and the timing rights for theplurality of encoded segments for the corresponding one of the pluralityof coordinated media content items to the one of the plurality ofplayback devices.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein coordinating theplurality of media content items comprises coordinating advertisementslots in the plurality of media content items.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein the plurality of media content items are heterogeneous mediacontent items.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of mediacontent items are homogeneous media content items.
 5. A systemcomprising: a) a communication interface communicatively coupling thesystem to a plurality of playback devices; and b) a control systemassociated with the communication interface and adapted to: i)coordinate advertisement slots in a plurality of media content itemsselected for playback at the plurality of playback devices to provide aplurality of coordinated media content items, each of the plurality ofmedia content items selected for playback at a corresponding one of theplurality of playback devices; ii) segment each of the plurality ofcoordinated media content items into a plurality of segments; iii)generate timing rights for the plurality of segments of each of theplurality of coordinated media content items to restrict playback of theplurality of segments of each of the plurality of coordinated mediacontent items such that the plurality of coordinated media content itemsare coordinated during playback at the plurality of playback devices;iv) encode the plurality of segments of each of the plurality ofcoordinated media content items to provide a plurality of encodedsegments of each of the plurality of coordinated media content items;and v) for each one of the plurality of playback devices, provide theplurality of encoded segments for a corresponding one of the pluralityof coordinated media content items and the timing rights for theplurality of encoded segments for the corresponding one of the pluralityof coordinated media content items to the one of the plurality ofplayback devices.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein in order tocoordinate the plurality of media content items, the control system isfurther adapted to coordinate advertisement slots in the plurality ofmedia content items.
 7. The system of claim 5 wherein the plurality ofmedia content items are heterogeneous media content items.
 8. The systemof claim 5 wherein the plurality of media content items are homogeneousmedia content items.